Apparatus for separating and recovering gases



Jan. 6, 1931.

O. L. BARNEBEY APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND RECOVERING GASES original Filed July 2o. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- Patented Jan. 6, 1931 a UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE A OSCAR I. BABNEBEY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB T0 AMERICAN SOLVENT BE- COVEBY CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO l APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING D BECOVEBING GASES Original application tiled July 20, 1920, Serial No. 397,745. Divided and this applicntionbdled July 29,

1922. Serial No.- 578,331. Renewed November 3', 1928,. l

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for separating gases and vapors. Inmy copending application, Serial Number 397,745, filed July 20, 1920, (United States Letters Patent No. 1,680,840), and from which this application has been divided, I have described and claimed a process for separating and recovering gases. Also in another divisional application, Serial Number 578,332 (United States Letters Patent No. 1,502,897) I have described and claimed an apparatus for separating and recovering f gases especially applicable to high pressures and which contain certain features for adsorbing and generating gases and vapors under high pressure. This application deals with apparatus more particularly suitable for separating and recovering gases under relatively low pressures, that is, substantially atmospheric pressure.

In following this invention the process described in application Serial Number 397,745

is followed in that the gaseous mixture to be treated is passed through the adsorbing material, preferably highly activated carbonaceous material, which removes one or more of the constituents of the gaseous mixture by the force of adsorption thus separating such constituents from the unadsorbed constituent or constituents after which the adsorbed ygas or gases are generated from the adsorbing material by means of heat, steam distillation or some such similar step hereinafter described.

My invention makes .possible a very effective separation of adsorbable 4from unadsorbable constituents of gaseous mixtures. The separation is effected in an economic manner. My apparatus is so designed as to allow the handling of very large volumes of gases without compression and to effect the separation from such gasesin an economic manner..

The large capacity for eilicient separation is made possible by my special means of handling the gases. A unitary or sectional system is used to rovide ease of shipment, rapidity of assem ly and elasticity of-capaclty which has a special advantage when 1t 1s found necessary to enlarge the capaclty of any particular unit which is in operation as enlarging the capacity of the equipment any time desired. f

By vertical assemblyjn horizontal layers a mlmmum of floor space is required for handlmg large quantities of 'gases at lnormal pressures. The apparatus is economic in first cost and operation. Special means are prov lded for regulating and controlling the reslstance or pressure caused by passage of gases in contact with the adsorbing material. Other objects achieved in my invention auxiliary to the foregoing will appear in the following description: Y

When gases or vapors are passed through an adsorptive material such as activated charcoal such gases and vapors are adsorbed to more or less extent, some being adsorbed completely or to a very large degree and others scarcely at all; The amount of an adsorbable gas or vapor removed from a gaseous mixture depends upon several factors; first, the amount of contacting surface Vof adsorbing material; second, the velocity of the gas passing through the adsorbing material; third` the concentration of adsorbahle gas in the gaseous mixture; fourth, the temperature or' the gaseousmixture; .fifth, the tem-l perature of the adsorbing material; and sixth, the pressure under which the adsorption is taking place. Y

In my copending application apparatus has been described in whichv hgh'pressures are used` for separation of Agases and vapors. In this application normal pressures are used so that the factors to be involved will regulate the time of contacting gases with adsorbl maximum opportunityof the adsorbable gas to be taken up by adsorbing material accomplishing this at as low a velocity as possible and also reducing thetemperature of the adsorbing material to as low a. point as is economically reasonable. These lpoints are accomplished by providing very large surface 'areas of adsorbing medium and cooling means to maintain as low .a temperature as is desired. Likewise, heating means are provided to heat the adsorbing material and adsorbed Y handling large quantities of gas and the conditions require the use of a relatively small adsorbing apparatus, then the gases are passed over la ers of adsorbing material and allowed to di use through. Specialvalvular means are provided to accomplish this diffusion of gases.

Again the gas mixture can be p artially forced throng the layers of adsorbing material and partially passed over the surface of the adsorbent and diffused through. When the concentration of the gas or vapor to be separated is low and large volumes of gaseous mixture must be handled per unit of timeand a big back pressure tends to build up due to resistance to direct pssage of the large volume of gases throug y the layers of adsorbent, then I prefer to provide a free path for the flow of gaseous mixture from one interlayer space to another so that the mixture can readily flow over and between the layers of adsorbing material and have opportunity to diii'use or penetrate into the adsorbing layers and be adsorbed by theadsorbing materiah A relatively large number of layers are spaced as close together as is feasible. Also the gases are directed in such a manner as to give 'a stirring effect as the gaseous mixture passes from one layer of adsorbing material to the next. If the temperature of the gases to be treated is too high, such gases are cooled before they enter the adsorption apparatus, such cooling lessening the cooling load which otherwisewould be placed upon the cooling means embedded within the adsorbent material layers during the adsorbing period.

When some difficulty is experienced in .removing the adsorbed gases or vapors during the generating period due to the lack of suicient heating within the heating coils or the requirement of water vapor to affect steam distillation, then steam or superheated steam is injected directly into the material thus adding more heat for distillation and giving the special effect or steam distillation when such is desired. The apparatus is operated periodically in that each unit of the apparatus is first saturated with adsorbable gases or vapors by passing the gaseous mixtures through the same until such is accomplished.

After saturation the material is heated or steam distilled while heating and the gases previously adsorbed thus removed. The liberated gases are condensed with any good form of condenser. When steam is used in direct "contact 'with the "material the 09nadsorption and generation two or more units are used so that adsorption can be taking place with one or more units and generation likewise be occurring at the same time with one or more units.

I will now describe my apparatus in detail referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an adsorption tower embodying my improvements, the showing being in a measure dagrammatic to give clearness on a drawing of this size.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, some of the parts beingbroken away to disclose the construction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3--3, of Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections showinr alternative methods of joining sections of tIie tower together.

Referring to the drawings the tower comprises a container preferably made of sheet steel and formed by a series of-superposed sections or units. 1 is a base section having an inlet conduit 2 for gas or vapor, said conduit connecting through tlie casing of valve 3 with a branch 4 adapted to supply the gas mixture to be separated and with a branch 5 adapted to supply hot air or steam.

Mounted on the base section l are a series of superposed units or sections 6 which are alike and are joined to each other by gas tight joints such for example as that shown in Figure 6. As there indicated, the top and bottom edges of each units are flanged outward to receive al suitable interposed packing 7 and to be tightly clamped together bv bolts 8.

On the uppermost one of the units 6 is mounted a top section 9 which constitutes the upper end of the container and is formed with an outlet conduit 10 that connects through the casing of the twoway valve 11 with a branch 12 for the discharge of the unadsorbed gases and with a branch 13 for the discharge of the adsorbed gases.

Each of the similar units 6 has one or vmore layers 14 of adsorbing material. Any suitable adsorbent mav be used but I prefer to use a highly activated carbon. To support the layers of adsorbent each of the units 6 is provided with a transverse dia hragm for each layer carried by the unit. En the preferred form of construction each unit carries a single layer of adsorbent and the unit thus has in its lower part a single diaphragm 15 preferably consisting of a base sheet 15a of expanded or perforated metal and an overllt) l ing sheet 15b of relatively fine` screen.

his screen may be made of tinned or nickeled iron, Monel metal or any .other form of noncorrodible metal. The expanded metal with its coarse mesh affords the necessary strengthV to support the layer while the relatively nne screen prevents vthe fallin ranular material from through. here the units 6 are joine as indicated in Figure 6 the supportingdiaphragm 15 may be secured to the units by rivets 16 as shown in said figure.

In each layer of adsorbent is embedded a `rcircuitous pi e or coil 17 which, as indicated 1n Flgure 2, as one endv connectedto a supply manifold 18 and its other -end to a manifold 19. The supply manifold 18 may be connected with a source of cold water or the like which can be assed' through the pipe 17 to cool the adsor n t, or can be connected with a steam supply I'or the purpose of heating the adsorbent. The discharge manifold 19 is preferably provided at its lower end with a steam trap.

Provision is also made to introduce steam or superheated steam at 27 this pipe 29 extending through` stuihng box 30 and out of injector 31 into ase conduit 2. This pipe connection also can be used to inject cooling water to lower the temperature of the aseous mixture previous to separation of tie adsorbable constituentsin such 'gases that are lunaffected by moisture.v n

The positions of the,` supporting diaphra ms 15 and the thickness of the layers of a sorbent are determi-ned so that in the assembled tower the layers 14 are separated from each other by free spaces 21. In .the apparatus illustrated in my earlier appl1cation, Serial No. 348,901, mentioned 1n my copending application Serial Number 397,745, above referred to, the adsorbent is in a single continuous mass. I [ind that in such a construction channels tend tovbe formed in the adsorbent, thus permitting an uneven passage of the gas' mixture with resultant loss of efficiency. This I effectively prevent by my present invention since the gas, passing through one relatively thin layer of adsorbent enters one of the spaces 21 in which it can freely diduse and mix Vbefore entering the next layer of the series.

In carrying out my present'invention the gas may all be forced to pass through lthe layers of adsorbent, except of course that which is adsorbed, and in some cases, especially where the gas is under considerable pressure, I prefer to follow that-practise, but where more moderate pressures are employed I prefer to provide connectingpassages berelation so t at gas passing through the passa e is caused to move over first one side of a ayer and then its other side. "In the con Y .left entirely open `or partially or entirely closed. As shown each valve has a spindle 23a` which -is fitted with a handle 236 for manual operation. The shaft preferably lits its bearings snugly enough to hold the valve in an adjusted position.

In igure 5 I` have indicated a second form of joint `for securing the tower units together. In this construction a series of horizontally disposed bolts 24 serve to clamp the adjacent walls of the sections together with an interposed acking 25 and also serve to secure the diap ragm l5 in position.

In Figure, 4v still another form of joint is shown in which the adjacent edges of the units are bent as'indicated so as to support the diaphragm 15 and receive a packing 26 which is preferably-calked to insure tightness. This packing may be made of suitable fibrous material impregnated with graphite 'or may be made of soft metal poured into the joint in a molten state.

In the operation ofthe apparatus above described the gas or vapor mixture to be separated is caused to enter through the branch 4 and the maiirconduit 2 and pass through and over the adsorbent material 14, the adsorbable gases and vapors being taken up by the adsorbent while theunadsorbable constituents iind their way to the outlet conduit 10 and the Ipassage At the beginning of the operation control valves 23 are closed in some of the upper sections, usually about five' of them. This causes all `the gases not adsorbed to vpass directly through the adsorbent layers 10 in these upper sections. The other control valves are pre for ably left open until the upper sections are thoroughly saturated with adsorbable gases and vapors. lVhile this saturatiml is proceeding the other layers are Wholly or partially satur-ated due to the diffusion ,of the gases into the granular material. After the upper sections are saturated the control valves of several of the next lowerv sections are closed and the valves ofthe upper saturated sections opened. This gradual closlng of the'valves from the top of the tower downward is continued until the maximum amount of adsorbable gas or vapor has been ltaken up by each section. `When desired water can be injected through means 27-31 inclusive to cool the gaseous Jmixture as it enters thebase of the tower. i

If the heat of adsorption is .considerable cold Water-is' passed through the cooling coils 17 continuously during adsorption to maintain the temperature of the adsorbent and the gas as low as possible during,r the adsorption period.

When the adsorption is complete the valve 3 is moved to cut-off the suppl of gas mixture to the tower and, prefera ly, the mixture is then conducted into another tower of the same character.

At the same time the valve 11 is moved to connect the conduit 10 with the discharge branch 13 and the adsorbent material is heated to distil off the adsorbed gas which is conducted out through the branch 13, the gas bein condensed and collected by means of a suitable condenser. The adsorbent material is heated by passin hot water or steam through the pipes 17 or admitting hot air or steam through the con uit 5 into the interior of the tower in direct contact with the adsorbent 1naterial,or both means of heating may be employed in conjunction. If the liquid resulting from Athe condensation of the adsorbed gas is miscible with water then the direct application of steam to the adsorbent material must be dispensed with or,

if it is not dispensed with, the resultant mixture of condensed gases and water must be redistilled or otherwise separated. In general it has been found that the direct application of steam to the adsorbent should be avoided in suchcases'whenever possible and the adsorbed gases or vapors removed by heat applied through the pipes 17. Of course if the condensed gas liquid is immiscible with water, the immlscible layers are readil separated by drawing one voff from the ot er.

W'hen the eneration and collection of the previously a sorbed gases or vapors are completed cool water is turned into the coils 17 and the gas valves are a ai'n changed to admit the gas mixture an begin a re etition of the above described cycle. Thus t e cycle of operations maybe repeated indefinitely. Usually the operation of several, adsorbing towers in conjunction is advisable so that the operation may be continuous, adsorption going on in one tower While generation oi" adsorbed gas is proceeding in another tower. 'lhe process may be operated under any prossure desired by proper regulation of the exit valve of the tower and of the pressure of the' gas supplied thereto, but it will be understood that the construction of the tower must bo made heavy and strong enough to withstand the pressure used. It is also to be observed in this connection that when workingunder high pressure there is a special tendency, because of the pressure, for the formation of condensate in the tower, and under such circumstances it is desirable to have means for theremoval of such condensate such as the valve-controlled dischargel conduit which constitutes a part ofthe invention covered in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 578,332 (Patent No.'1,502,897) It will be observed that both the local pressure and distri- 'bution of the as in the tower can be reg -lated by the adJustment of the valves 23.

The details of the apparatus can be varied l. In apparatus for separating the con-Kl stituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and'outlet passages for gas, a plurality of separated layers of adsorbin material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixtures and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas with interposed spaces adapted to permit through diffusion of the gases therein, and means embedded in said layers for varying the temperature of the adsorbing material.

'2. In apparatus for separating the constituents ofgases by adsorption, the combipassages for gas, a plurality of separated layers of adsorblng material interposed in series between the inlet passage' for the gaseous mixture and the Outlet passage for unadsorbed gas with interposed spaces adapted to permit thorough diiusion of the gases therein, and means for introducing steam directly to the adsorbing material.

3. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, a plurallty of separated layers of adsorbing material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixture and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas with interposed spaces adapted to permit thoroughl diffusion of the gases therein, and means in said layers for controlling the temperature of the adsorbing material comprising embedded coils adapted to receive heating or cooling fluids.

4. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, a plurality of separated layers ,of adsorbing material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixture and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas, means for controlling the `temperature of the adsorbing material comprislng embedded coils adapted to receive heating and cooling fluids, and means for adding steam. directly to the adsorbing material.

5. In apparatus for separating the constltuents of gases by adsorption, the combination of 'a container having inlet and outlet `Vnation of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, a plurality of separated layers of adsorbing material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixture and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas, the spaces between the said layers being connected by passages whereby some gas can pass from one such space to another without passing through the adsorbing material, and means in said layers for cooling and heatingthe adsorbent material.

6. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, a plurality of separated layers of adsorbing material interposed in series bctwcen the inlet passage for the gaseous miX- lure and the out-let passage for unadsorbed gas, the spaces between the said layers being connected by passages whereby some gas can pass from one suchy space to another without passing through the adsorbing material, and means for controlling the distribution of gas to the spaces between said layers.

7. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, and a plurality of separated layers of adsorbing material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixture and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas, one or more of said layers being provided with a valved passage therethrough to permit a more or less free passage of gas according to the adjustment of the valve or valves.

8. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a container having inlet and outlet passages for gas, a plurality ot separated layers ofadsorbing material interposed in series between the inlet passage for the gaseous mixture and the outlet passage for unadsorbed gas, said layers bein formed with passages therethrough and t e passages of each layer being staggered in relation to those of the adjacent layers, and means for controlling the temperature of the adsorbing material.

9. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a sectional container comprising end sections formed with gas passages having valve devices for controlling the entrance and exit of gases and the rate of flow thereof and a plurality of intermediate uniform sections secured together and to the end sections, and a plurality of separated layers of adsorbing material interposed in series between the end sections ofthe container, each layer being entirely supported on one of the said intermediate sectlons.4

10. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a sectional container comprising end sections formed with gas passages having valve devices for controlling the entrance and exit of gases and the rate of low thereof and a plurality of intermediate uniform sections secured together and to the end sections, and a layer of adsorbing material supported in each of said uniform sections.

ll. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a sectional container comprising end sections formed with gas passages having valve devices for controlling the entrance and exit of gases and the rate of flow thereof anda plurality ot intermediate uniform sections secured togethcr and to the end sections, and a layer of adsorbing material supported in each of said uniform sections, with an iutervening space between it and the layers of the next adjacent sections.

12. In apparatus for separating the constituents ot' gases by adsorption, the combination ofa sectional container comprising end sections formed with gas passages pos- Sessing valvular means for controlling the entrance and eXit of gases and rate of How of gas, a plurality of intermediate sections secured together and to the end sections, a plurality of layers of adsorbing material interposed between the end sections of the container, each layer being entirely supported on one of the said intermediate sections, each layer of adsorbing material being supported by a oraminous transverse diaphragm comprising two members one of which is superposed on the other and has openings smaller than the particles of adsorbent material while .the lower member has relatively large openings.

13. In apparatus for separating the constituents of gases by adsorption, the combination of a sectional container comprising end sections formed with gas passages possessing valvular means for controlling the entrance and exit of gases and rate of flow of gases, a plurality of intermediate sections secured together andto the end seetio'ns, a plurality of layers of adsorbing material interposed between the end sections of the container, and means for supporting each of said layers entirelyfrom one of said intermediate sections comprising a member containing openings smaller than the particles ofthe adsorbent material and means for rigidly supporting said member.

In testunony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

OSCAR L. BARNEBEY. 

